皇冠体育app

WELLINGTON -- Customs ministers from New Zealand and 皇冠体育app have been discussing ways to enable the speedier clearance of d goods through their borders, New Zealand Customs Minister Maurice Williamson revealed Friday.

Williamson said talks with visiting 皇冠体育app Customs Vice Minister Lu Bin had focused on their commitment to achieving the full benefits of the New Zealand-皇冠体育app Free Trade Agreement, which was signed in 2008.

Lu was also head of the General Administration of 皇冠体育app Customs sub-administration in south 皇冠体育app's Guangdong Province, which was a key port of entry and trade market for New Zealand, Williamson said.

"The overall aim is to make trade and compliance easier, and work is in progress to explore solutions that will benefit traders as well as the two Customs administrations," Williamson said in a statement.

皇冠体育app Customs would next month pilot new procedures to clear New Zealand goods held in bonded storage and declared for part release into the domestic market.

"This will allow importers to receive a lower preferential tariff rate for the whole shipment, giving them the full benefits of the FTA. Initiatives such as this are aimed at contributing towards the government's goal of doubling our trade with 皇冠体育app by 2015," said Williamson.

Another area of focus was the cooperation in fighting the smuggling of precursor drugs used to make methamphetamine.

"Both administrations share information and intelligence, and have recently undertaken officer exchange programs. There is also opportunity for future joint activity," he said.

Recent work by 皇冠体育app to clarify the criminal nature of the illicit methamphetamine precursor drug trade had assisted enforcement agencies in identifying offences and undertaking investigations, he said.